Nashville Family Session and Cake Smash Session

The Waddell Family’s Portrait session and 1-year-old milestone cake smash session with Nashville Family Photographer Dolly DeLong Photography

The Waddell family drove all the way from Florida to Nashville, Tennessee, for their family portrait session and one-year-old milestone cake smash! One of their traditions is to have family photos taken in a new state each year. Even though 2020 looked different for everyone, they stayed committed to their goal and made the trip to Nashville. I was so honored to capture both their family portraits and their youngest child’s 1st birthday cake smash session.

Jessica (mama) decided to include professional hair and makeup with Kati Edge Hair and Makeup, which added soft, feminine touches that looked perfect against the golden glow of Nashville’s evening light. Adding hair and makeup is always such a wonderful way for moms to feel confident, radiant, and stress-free on session day.

A Joyful Tennessee Family Session

From start to finish, the Waddell family was a joy to work with. They are kind, fun, and overflowing with love for one another—which always shines through in their photos. As a Nashville family photographer, my goal is to help families feel comfortable so that genuine connection, laughter, and love come through naturally. With the Waddells, that was easy! Their session included:

• Family portraits in a golden-hour Nashville setting

• Sweet sibling interactions

• Solo portraits of their youngest to celebrate turning one

• A strawberry-themed cake smash session to mark this milestone

I loved capturing both the milestone and family aspects of their time in Tennessee.

Why I Loved This Session

The Waddells are one of the most genuine families I had the honor of working with in 2020. They remind me why family photography matters so much—it’s not just about the photos themselves, but about preserving a season of life you’ll never get back. I’m so thankful they found me through a Google search and trusted me to capture their Tennessee family photos.

I can’t wait to see what state they choose next for their annual family tradition!

Planning Your Own Family Session in Nashville

If you’re traveling to Tennessee (or if you’re local!) and want to document your family’s story, I’d love to help you plan a joyful, stress-free session. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone like a first birthday cake smash or want updated portraits, we’ll create timeless images you’ll treasure for years.

Ready to plan your session? Contact me here to start the conversation—I’d be honored to capture your family’s memories!

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